#ItsAboutTime – Black Actress Cast as Lead in ‘Game of Thrones’ Prequel

HBO’s hit series “Game of Thrones” will FINALLY be adding some color to the screen in the show’s prequel.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Black British actress Naomi Ackie has been cast as the lead in HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel series. The announcement comes after years of criticism for the popular show having little to no black actors.

Stars Wars actor John Boyega criticized the award-winning series for its lack of Black actors in his July 2017 GQ cover story.

“There are no black people on Game of Thrones,” Boyega boldly said.

Ackie has appeared in Idris Elba’s directorial debut film “Yardie”. She is also set to appear in J.J. Abrams’ “Stars Wars: Episode IX”, which will be released later this year in December, Ebony reports. Adding more diversity to the mix, HBO has selected female director S.J. Clarkson to produce and direct the show’s pilot episode, the outlet adds.

The highly anticipated prequel will reportedly take place thousands of years before the current Game of Thrones. The hit series is set to air its final season in April.

According to a logline from the premium channel on the prequel,

“Only one thing is for sure: From the horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history to the true origin of the White Walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend – it’s not the story we think we know.”